Physiological and Mechanical Indices Serving the New Cross-Country Olympic Mountain Bike Performance

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Arnaud Hays ◽  
Caroline Nicol ◽  
Denis Bertin ◽  
Romain Hardouin ◽  
Jeanick Brisswalter
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Power ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Active Recovery ◽  
Mountain Bike ◽  
Testing Protocol ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Aerobic Power Output

Objectives: To identify relevant physiological, mechanical, and strength indices to improve the evaluation of elite mountain bike riders competing in the current Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) format. Methods: Considering the evolution of the XCO race format over the last decade, the present testing protocol adopted a battery of complementary laboratory cycling tests: a maximal aerobic consumption, a force–velocity test, and a multi-short-sprint test. A group of 33 elite-level XCO riders completed the entire testing protocol and at least 5 international competitions. Results: Very large correlations were found between the XCO performance and maximal aerobic power output (r = .78; P < .05), power at the second ventilation threshold (r = .83; P < .05), maximal pedaling force (r = .77; P < .05), and maximum power in the sixth sprint (r = .87; P < .05) of the multi-short-sprint test. A multiple regression model revealed that the normalized XCO performance was predicted at 89.2% (F3,29 = 89.507; r = .95; P < .001) by maximum power in the sixth sprint (β = 0.602; P < .001), maximal pedaling rate (β = 0.309; P < .001), and relative maximal aerobic power output (β = 0.329; P < .001). Discussion: Confirming our expectations, the current XCO performance was highly correlated with a series of physiological and mechanical parameters reflecting the high level of acyclic and intermittent solicitation of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways and the required qualities of maximal force and velocity. Conclusion: The combination of physiological, mechanical, and strength characteristics may thus improve the prediction of elite XCO cyclists’ performance. It seems of interest to evaluate the ability to repeatedly produce brief intensive efforts with short active recovery periods.

Power Output and Pacing During International Cross-Country Mountain Bike Cycling

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1243-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyril Granier ◽  
Chris R. Abbiss ◽  
Anaël Aubry ◽  
Yvon Vauchez ◽  
Sylvain Dorel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Power ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Mountain Bike ◽  
Fast Start ◽  
World Class ◽  
Physiological Profiles ◽  
Road Cyclists ◽  
Cross Country

Purpose: To characterize the physiological profiles of elite cross-country mountain-bike (XCO-MTB) cyclists and to examine their pacing and power-output (PO) distribution during international races. Methods: Over 2 competitive seasons, 8 male XCO-MTB cyclists (VO2max 79.9 [5.2] mL·min−1·kg−1, maximal aerobic power [MAP] 411 [18] W and 6.3 [0.4] W·kg−1) regularly undertook incremental tests to assess their PO and heart rate (HR) at first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) and at VO2max. During the same period, their PO, HR, speed, and cadence were recorded over 13 international races (total of 30 recorded files). Results: Mean PO, speed, cadence, and HR during the races were 283 (22) W (4.31 [0.32] W·kg−1, 68% [5%] MAP), 19.7 (2.1) km·h−1, 68 (8) rpm, and 172 (11) beats·min−1 (91% [2%] HRmax), respectively. The average times spent below 10% of MAP, between 10% of MAP and VT1, between VT1 and VT2, between VT2 and MAP, and above MAP were 25% (5%), 21% (4%), 13% (3%), 16% (3%), and 26% (5%), respectively. Both speed and PO decreased from the start loop to lap 1 before stabilizing until the end of the race.Conclusions: Elite off-road cyclists demonstrated typical values of world-class endurance cyclists with an excellent power-to-mass ratio. This study demonstrated that XCO-MTB races are performed at higher intensities than reported in previous research and are characterized by a fast start followed by an even pace.

Does Cerebral Blood Flow Limit Maximal Aerobic Power Output?

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Subudhi ◽  
J Tod Olin ◽  
Andrew C. Dimmen ◽  
Bengt Kayser ◽  
Robert C. Roach
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Power ◽  
Flow Limit ◽  
Aerobic Power Output

scholarly journals Relationships between acute race-induced changes in creatine kinase activity and blood plasma myoglobin concentration and race performance in mountain bike and road cyclists

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Hebisz ◽  
Jacek Borkowski ◽  
Rafal Hebisz
Keyword(s):  
Creatine Kinase ◽  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Ventilatory Threshold ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Power ◽  
Mountain Bike ◽  
Road Cyclists ◽  
Race Performance

The aim of this study was to determine if the changes in plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity and myoglobin (MB) concentrations as markers of muscle damage differ between competitive road (n = 14) and mountain bike (n = 11) cyclists and if these biochemical markers show a relationship with real-world race performance. CK and MB were measured from blood samples collected 2 hours before race start and 1 hour after race completion and the change in pre- and post-race difference was calculated (ΔCK and ΔMB). An incremental exercise test was used to determine maximal oxygen uptake, maximal aerobic power, and power output at the second ventilatory threshold. Post-race CK and MB increased in the whole group of cyclists. Although the magnitude of change in CK was similar in both road and mountain bike cyclists, only the increase in road cyclists was significant. MB significantly increased only in mountain bike cyclists. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between both road and mountain bike race performance and ΔCK and ΔMB. The other significant predictors for mountain bike race performance were maximal aerobic power (W?kg-1) and power output at the second ventilatory threshold (W?kg-1) and for road race performance both maximal oxygen uptake (l?min-1) and power output at the second ventilatory threshold (W). In conclusion, mountain bike racing was associated with an increase in MB whereas road racing with an increase in CK, with the post-race changes in CK and MB related to race performance as high ΔCK and low ΔMB were obtained by better-performing cyclists.

scholarly journals Exercise Intensity and Pacing Pattern During a Cross-Country Olympic Mountain Bike Race

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffan Næss ◽  
Ove Sollie ◽  
Øyvind Nøstdahl Gløersen ◽  
Thomas Losnegard
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Critical Power ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Time Trial ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Mountain Bike ◽  
Personal Power ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cross Country

Objective: To examine the power profiles and pacing patterns in relation to critical power (CP) and maximal aerobic power (MAP) output during a cross-country Olympic (XCO) mountain bike race.Methods: Five male and two female national competitive XCO cyclists completed a UCI Cat. 1 XCO race. The races were 19 km and 23 km and contained five (female) and six (male) laps, respectively. Power output (PO) during the race was measured with the cyclists’ personal power meters. On two laboratory tests using their own bikes and power meters, CP and work capacity above CP (W') were calculated using three time trials of 12, 7, and 3 min, while MAP was established based on a 3-step submaximal test and the maximal oxygen uptake from the 7-min time trial.Results: Mean PO over the race duration (96 ± 7 min) corresponded to 76 ± 9% of CP and 63 ± 4% of MAP. 40 ± 8% of race time was spent with PO &gt; CP, and the mean duration and magnitude of the bouts &gt;CP was ~8 s and ~120% of CP. From the first to last lap, time &gt;CP and accumulated W' per lap decreased with 9 ± 6% and 45 ± 17%, respectively. For single &gt;CP bouts, mean magnitude and mean W' expended decreased by 25 ± 8% and 38 ± 15% from the first to the last lap, respectively. Number and duration of bouts did not change significantly between laps.Conclusion: The highly variable pacing pattern in XCO implies the need for rapid changes in metabolic power output, as a result of numerous separate short-lived &gt;CP actions which decrease in magnitude in later laps, but with little lap-to-lap variation in number and duration.

Aerobic and Anaerobic Power Distribution During Cross-Country Mountain Bike Racing

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Bernhard Prinz ◽  
Dieter Simon ◽  
Harald Tschan ◽  
Alfred Nimmerichter
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Anaerobic Power ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Mountain Bike ◽  
Mean Power ◽  
Anaerobic Energy ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Mean Power Output ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic

Purpose: To determine aerobic and anaerobic demands of mountain bike cross-country racing. Methods: Twelve elite cyclists (7 males;  = 73.8 [2.6] mL·min-1·kg−1, maximal aerobic power [MAP] = 370 [26] W, 5.7 [0.4] W·kg−1, and 5 females;  = 67.3 [2.9] mL·min−1·kg−1, MAP = 261 [17] W, 5.0 [0.1] W·kg−1) participated over 4 seasons at several (119) international and national races and performed laboratory tests regularly to assess their aerobic and anaerobic performance. Power output, heart rate, and cadence were recorded throughout the races. Results: The mean race time was 79 (12) minutes performed at a mean power output of 3.8 (0.4) W·kg−1; 70% (7%) MAP (3.9 [0.4] W·kg−1 and 3.6 [0.4] W·kg−1 for males and females, respectively) with a cadence of 64 (5) rev·min−1 (including nonpedaling periods). Time spent in intensity zones 1 to 4 (below MAP) were 28% (4%), 18% (8%), 12% (2%), and 13% (3%), respectively; 30% (9%) was spent in zone 5 (above MAP). The number of efforts above MAP was 334 (84), which had a mean duration of 4.3 (1.1) seconds, separated by 10.9 (3) seconds with a mean power output of 7.3 (0.6) W·kg−1 (135% [9%] MAP). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of the anaerobic energy system and the interaction between anaerobic and aerobic energy systems. Therefore, the ability to perform numerous efforts above MAP and a high aerobic capacity are essential to be competitive in mountain bike cross-country.

The Cycling Physiology of Miguel Indurain 14 Years After Retirement

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñigo Mujika
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Blood Lactate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Aerobic Power ◽  
Cycle Ergometer ◽  
Cycle Ergometer Test ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Aerobic Power Output

Age-related fitness declines in athletes can be due to both aging and detraining. Very little is known about the physiological and performance decline of professional cyclists after retirement from competition. To gain some insight into the aging and detraining process of elite cyclists, 5-time Tour de France winner and Olympic Champion Miguel Indurain performed a progressive cycle-ergometer test to exhaustion 14 y after retirement from professional cycling (age 46 y, body mass 92.2 kg). His maximal values were oxygen uptake 5.29 L/min (57.4 mL · kg−1 · min−1), aerobic power output 450 W (4.88 W/kg), heart rate 191 beats/min, blood lactate 11.2 mM. Values at the individual lactate threshold (ILT): 4.28 L/min (46.4 mL · kg−1 · min−1), 329 W (3.57 W/kg), 159 beats/min, 2.4 mM. Values at the 4-mM onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA): 4.68 L/min (50.8 mL · kg−1 · min−1), 369 W (4.00 W/kg), 170 beats/min. Average cycling gross efficiency between 100 and 350 W was 20.1%, with a peak value of 22.3% at 350 W. Delta efficiency was 27.04%. Absolute maximal oxygen uptake and aerobic power output declined by 12.4% and 15.2% per decade, whereas power output at ILT and OBLA declined by 19.8% and 19.2%. Larger declines in maximal and submaximal values relative to body mass (19.4–26.1%) indicate that body composition changed more than aerobic characteristics. Nevertheless, Indurain’s absolute maximal and submaximal oxygen uptake and power output still compare favorably with those exhibited by active professional cyclists.

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